On March 4, 2025, the Florida House of Representatives held a first reading of House Bill 1517—a controversial proposal that would have allowed civil lawsuits for the “wrongful death of an unborn child.” The bill raised major concerns because it would have opened the door for doctors, doulas, nurses, and others involved in abortion care to be sued. It also would’ve allowed someone who impregnated a person to sue for the loss of a pregnancy—without needing the consent of the person who was pregnant.
The ACLU and other advocacy groups spoke out strongly against the bill, calling it a threat to reproductive rights and the safety of healthcare workers. State Representative Ashley Gantt also challenged the bill on the House floor, comparing it to dystopian stories like The Handmaid’s Tale and Black Mirror that warn of a future where personal freedoms are stripped away.
During her speech, Rep. Gantt made the case that the bill could create harmful legal consequences, even suggesting that if passed, prosecutors should consider releasing pregnant inmates due to the risk of being charged with negligence.
While HB 1517 passed the House, it didn’t survive in the Senate. This isn’t the first time the bill has come up—last year it failed due to concerns around in vitro fertilization (IVF). Lawmakers revised the language this year, but strong opposition remained.
“This bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing with the language including portions that recognizes fetuses in “any stages of development” to be acknowledged the same way as a minor child for the purposes of claiming damages,” wrote Rep. Gantt in an Instagram post, urging the community to stay informed. “We must stay aware and speak out against bills like these whose end goal is to create fetal personhood laws and completely take away the bodily autonomy of women across the state.”
While the bill didn’t pass, it shows the ongoing efforts to reshape reproductive rights in Florida. It’s important to pay attention to what’s being proposed—and how it could impact you and your community.
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